Manchester City will reportedly compete with Liverpool for Joao Palhinha, with Fulham demanding £60 million to sell him.
According to a report by The Sun, Joao Palhinha is the subject of interest from Manchester City. The 28-year-old Fulham midfielder is also a target for other European bigwigs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, the West London club will demand £60 million to sell him.
The Rise of Joao Palhinha
Joao Palhinha has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since joining Fulham from Sporting CP last year. The Cottagers had shelled out £20 million to secure his services, and the player has proven worth the investment. In addition, the Portuguese international has grown in stature for his national team.
The 28-year-old has turned out 56 times thus far for Fulham, chipping in with six goals and one assist. Meanwhile, Palhinha’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of many high-profile clubs. Bayern Munich tried to sign the Fulham midfielder in the summer transfer window, but a move did not materialise.
The Bundesliga champions retain an interest in the former Sporting CP midfielder. But Bayern Munich will face stiff competition from several Premier League bigwigs, including Liverpool. Meanwhile, Palhinha has emerged as a target for Premier League champions Manchester City. Fulham will demand £60 million to sell him.
Premier League Stay on the Cards with Manchester City or Liverpool?
The treble winners are in the market for a midfielder heading into the January transfer window. Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic have not set the stage alight since joining Manchester City in the summer. In addition, Kalvin Phillips faces an uncertain future at the Etihad, with a January move likely. Joao Palhinha has thus emerged as a viable target for Manchester City.
As for Liverpool, the Merseyside club signed four midfielders in the summer transfer window. But Wataru Endo has been in and out of the starting lineup throughout this season. So, it is hardly surprising that the Reds are in the market for a holding midfielder. Palhinha has thus emerged as a viable target for Liverpool.
Manchester City and Liverpool are financially adept enough to afford to pay £60 million to secure Palhinha’s services. But the Portuguese international has been keen on joining Bayern Munich since the summer. So, it will be interesting to see where he lands in a deal worth £60 million next month.
